CR135. Services for Younger People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias

Co-published with the Alzheimer’s Society. (Replaces CR77:
Services for younger people with Alzheimer's disease and other
dementias.)

Younger people with dementia and their carers frequently fall
through the net of the health and social care services. During the
1990s an increasing number of these patients were referred to old
age psychiatry services. In response to this new pattern, in 2000
the Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry,
in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society, published a policy paper
outlining the configuration of services for younger patients with
dementia. The document was well received. In 2002 a review showed
that a start had been made in implementing its recommendations but
that no health area had put all its recommendations into
practice.

The authors of the present report are encouraged by what has been
achieved and remain convinced of the importance of the original
document’s two key recommendations. An incremental approach is
advocated, with the appointment of two key players: at the
commissioning level (primary care trusts or their equivalent), a
named person responsible for planning, and a consultant clinician
to act as a focus for referrals, initially with two programmed
activities or sessional equivalents. An old age psychiatrist is
well-placed to undertake the clinical role.

After these appointments have been made, the rudiments of the local
service is created. At all stages, coordination and networking with
people already involved with younger people with dementia is
important; the composition and evolution of the new service will
depend on existing local services and facilities.

Both organisations remain committed to these principles and
consider that it is timely to publish this second edition of the
policy paper so that the momentum of what has been started will be
maintained. In this way this disadvantaged group of patients will
have a modern dedicated service to meet their special needs.